Carmel Board approves $5.04 million order for two pumpers and a tiller, and signs police vehicle equipment contract

The Carmel Board of Public Works on May 6 approved a $5,041,750 additional‑services amendment with McQueen Equipment LLC to purchase two pumpers and a tractor‑drawn ladder (tiller) and also authorized a $196,395.41 contract with Waymarked Systems for police vehicle equipment.

Chief Joel Thacker of the Carmel Fire Department told the board the city must place orders now because build and delivery timelines have lengthened sharply; he said pumpers are taking "28 to 31 months" to build and ladder trucks can take "as great as 47 months." Thacker noted long‑term price increases, saying prices for a ladder truck rose from about $1.2 million in 2020 to roughly $2.3 million by 2024.

Benjamin (staff) and other members asked whether Amendment 3 changed specifications; staff said the technical specifications remained the same and that the amendment primarily adjusts quantities, dates and cost to reflect current demand pressures. The board voted by voice to approve the amendment.

Separately, Major Ryan Gelson, appearing for Chief Drake Sterling of the Carmel Police Department, asked the board to sign the previously awarded contract with Waymarked Systems for vehicle accessories and equipment, saying the vendor was "the most responsive" and met bid requirements. Gelson said the purchase will outfit approximately "13 to 15 cars." The board approved the contract by voice vote.

No dissenting votes were recorded during either action. The McQueen Equipment amendment was described as an addition to an existing contract to secure apparatus to meet the department’s multi‑year replacement schedule; staff emphasized national backlog and lead‑time concerns as the rationale for ordering now.

The board did not set specific delivery dates in the meeting record; staff said timelines are governed by manufacturer build schedules and that lead times underpin the decision to place the orders now.